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NEW JERSEY - Red Flag and Fire Weather Warnings were issued for the NYC area on Tuesday as gusty winds and dry fuel could lead to rapid fire spreading throughout the rest of the week.
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- NJ wildfire update: When will the fire threat end? Live coverage, forecast
The wildfire threat across the Tri-State is increasing after brief rain earlier this week provided little relief to long-term drought conditions, the FOX Forecast Center said. This can also lead to air quality alerts, as the smell and haze from the New York and New Jersey wildfire smoke infiltrated New York City this weekend.
"The high fire potential is still with us for the next several days as well; that will be the big weather story for us here as we head through the next few days," FOX 5 NY's Mike Woods said.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, formally Twitter, NY Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a statewide burn ban that will go into effect beginning on Wednesday.
"New Yorkers: It is critical to avoid any outdoor burning at this time," the post read. "Remember to report any fires immediately to authorities, stay alert, and monitor your local forecast and law enforcement alerts.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the governor said officials were "currently managing 11 confirmed wildfires statewide."
Weather and fire forecast
The combination of strong winds, which could gust up to 35 mph, and increasingly dry air coming down from Canada will set the stage for rapid fire spread, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
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NYC weather forecast
FOX 5 NY's Mike Woods has the details.
Smoke from the Jennings Creek Fire may once again move toward New York City, but it will be less intense Tuesday compared with the weekend conditions, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Meanwhile, the threat of wildfires will continue into Wednesday as northeast winds bring in a very dry airmass. Relative humidity will drop even more compared to Tuesday, with minimum values as low as 20%.
Some good news is that the winds will not be quite as strong during the afternoon hours, with gusts of 20-25 mph likely.
New Jersey wildfire maps
AirNow has an interactive Fire and Smoke Map for updates on blazes in your area. The National Interagency Fire Center has also partnered with NASA to provide real-time interactive fire maps.
Active fires
A look at the active wildfires in the Northeast along with the latest statistics on each fire. (FOX Weather)
Fire weather alerts
A look at the fire weather alerts issued in the Northeast through Tuesday. (FOX Weather)
Jennings Creek Fire today
The Jennings Creek fire, located on the New Jersey-New York border in Passaic and Orange counties, is 20% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
Still, the fire has spread to 5,000 acres across New York and New Jersey, Hochul said, and threatens several structures, including two homes in New Jersey and eight buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District.
In order to find and fight many of the fires, crews must navigate a maze of dense forests, country roads, lakes and steep hills. Trees there have dropped most of their leaves onto parched ground, masking potential danger, authorities said. And Tuesday's windy conditions made the fight even more difficult for crews.
"Today, Forest Fire Service crews will be met with significant challenges due to the forecasted weather," New Jersey Forest Fire Service tweeted.
Drought conditions have sparked hundreds of fires throughout the Tri-State area since Oct. 1, and this weekend, New York City residents reported smelling smoke and seeing hazy skies. At least one person, an 18-year-old Ramapo High School student and New York State Parks' employee, was killed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
"Beneath the surface leaf litter that falls off the trees, that stuff is bone dry," Bryan Gallagher, a forest ranger with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, said at a media briefing. "So right now you get a little bit of rain that puts that surface fire out. But if it’s in the duff it’s going to stay there. It’s going to smolder like a cigar until it gets dry enough and then that fire can pop up again."
NY teen killed fighting wildfire
Meanwhile, New York State Police said they were investigating the death of Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old state parks employee who died when a tree fell on him Saturday afternoon as he battled a major brush fire in Sterling Forest.
Rockland County community mourns Dariel Vasquez, teen killed fighting wildfire
The Rockland County community gathered Monday to honor the life of 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez, a New York State Parks employee and recent Ramapo High School graduate, who tragically lost his life while fighting a wildfire in Sterling Forest.
According to LoHud.com, Vasquez was a star high school baseball player and captain of Ramapo HIgh School's team. According to a GoFundMe account set up to help his family cover expenses, he had plans to start college in January.
"Dariel’s sudden passing has left a void in our family and community, yet his legacy of love and courage remains an enduring source of inspiration. We remember him as a true hero," the Vasquez family wrote on GoFundMe.
Air quality near me
This map from AirNow.gov shows the current air quality in the New York City area. Click HERE if you're having trouble viewing the embedded map.
Since Oct. 1, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said it has responded to 537 wildfires burning a total of 4,500 acres in the state. Likewise, in New York, fire officials said they have responded to 60 wildfires, which burned a total of 2,100 acres.
FOX Weather and the Associated Press helped contributed to this report.